System and Method for Quantifying Stimulated Rock Quality in a Wellbore

ABSTRACT

A method determines the performance index of subterranean rock. In one embodiment, a performance index method determines a performance index for subterranean rock of an area. The area includes a well. The method includes determining a time period during producing the well. The method also includes determining the performance index from data of the time period from the equation PI=(q/dd)*(cum./GPI). The term PI is the performance index, and the term q is the average daily rate of the well for the time period. The term dd is the average drawdown per day of the well for the time period, and the term cum. is the cumulative production of the well for the time period. The term GPI is the gross perforated interval of the well for the time period.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of oil and gas production and more specifically to the field of analyzing shale and tight rock oil and gas fields by quantifying differences in rock quality within a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir.

2. Background of the Invention

Due to the increased need for more efficient ways to develop oil and gas fields, a variety of different development strategies have been developed. For instance, conventional development strategies include well spacing, wellbore stimulation software, and like strategies. Drawbacks to such conventional methods include inefficiencies in accurately defining differences between rock qualities in the reservoir, which may lead to inefficient field development. Additional drawbacks include inefficiencies in quantifying differences in stimulated rock quality within a reservoir, which may lead to an insufficient or excessive number of wells drilled and completed in an area as well as inefficient development planning aimed to maximize profitability from predicted performance. Further drawbacks include inefficiencies in normalizing well performance data for analysis when wells are operated on different choke sizes. Drawbacks also include inefficiencies in determining the optimum fracture stimulation design, including optimum amounts of certain stimulation materials, for a defined performance area by incompletely defining the comparable stimulated rock quality areas. It is to be understood that the optimum completion design may vary with changes in rock quality within a reservoir.

Consequently, there is a need for improved methods for quantifying differences in stimulated rock quality. Further needs include improved methods for analyzing stimulated rock qualities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a method that determines the performance index of subterranean rock. In one embodiment, a performance index method determines a performance index for subterranean rock of an area. The area includes a well. The method includes determining a time period during producing the well. The method also includes determining the performance index using data of the time period from the equation PI=(q/dd)*(cum./GPI). The term PI is the performance index, and the term q is the average daily rate of the well for the time period. The term dd is the average drawdown per day of the well for the time period, and the term cum. is the cumulative production of the well for the time period. The term GPI is the gross perforated interval of the well for the time period.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In an embodiment, a performance index method quantifies differences in stimulated rock quality in reservoirs of a desired area. The performance index method includes determining a performance index (PI) for all producing wells within the reservoir. In a further embodiment, once determined, the wells belonging to a range of PI values are grouped together, thereby defining the stimulated rock quality of an area of the reservoir, which is referred to as a performance area. Without limitation, an advantage may be created when the groupings are mapped, which provides visual differentiation of the rock quality changes by identifying the clustering of wells of a certain performance. Further, without limitation, such an advantage may lead to an additional advantage including that each fully defined performance area may be evaluated using a reservoir simulator to yield a set of EURs and drainage areas that may correspond to a number of development scenarios (i.e., four wells per section, five wells per section, up to twelve wells per section). Such EURs and scenarios may be entered into an economics calculating program for evaluation of the different investment scenarios. In embodiments, the higher PI that is determined for an area, the fewer wells that may be needed for efficient drainage of desirable fluids from the area. Without limitation, when coupled with reservoir simulation results and economic analyses, the determined performance areas may provide how many wells for the area may be desired to maximize profitability. For instance, without limitation, an embodiment of the performance index method includes that for optimizing the number of wells to drill in a desired area, the determined PI provides that five wells are optimum in a desired area for a PI greater than sixty-five, six wells are optimum in a desired area for a PI from twenty-one to sixty-five, seven wells are optimum in a desired area for a PI from twelve to twenty, and eight or more wells are optimum in a desired area for a PI from zero to eleven. For example only, Table A below provides an illustrative example of performance areas for such an instance.

TABLE A Performance Area PI Optimum Wells/Section A >65 5 B 51-65 6 C 31-50 6 D 21-30 6 E 12-20 7 F  0-11  8+

In an embodiment, a desirable PI is greater than thirty, although, without limitation, most wells with a PI greater than eleven are profitable (i.e., for instance, using any 2010 NYMEX® price file). Additional advantages include, without limitation, that desired quality rock may predict efficient and more profitable production because the desirable rock readily fractures and propagates, and/or has more natural fractures to propagate. A lower quality performance area (for various reasons) may absorb the treating pressure in a more ductile manner, which may create less productive surface area and may cause a less profitable investment. In addition, an advantage includes, without limitation, that the determined PI facilitates normalization of performance data (e.g., production rates and pressures) for wells operated on different choke sizes, which may be used when defining the extents of a performance area by evaluating wells operated on different choke sizes or when making well performance comparisons between wells operated on different choke sizes. Additionally, without limitation, a defined performance area facilitates analysis for optimizing a fracture stimulation design including facilitating the determination of optimum amounts of certain stimulation materials. It is to be understood that optimum amounts of stimulation materials are found to be different for different rock qualities. In some embodiments, the PI of any two like wells (i.e., one well having an optimum completion design and another not) may only vary up to four PI units. Without limitation, such effect may change the extents of a defined performance area, but identification of this effect may prevent such misleading change. It is to be further understood that desirable fluids include hydrocarbons such as oil and natural gas. In an embodiment, the hydrocarbons are natural gas. It is also to be understood that stimulation materials include water, friction reducers, linear and cross-linked gels, and proppant.

The desired area may include any oil and gas fields such as conventional oil and gas fields and shale and tight rock fields. In embodiments, the desired area includes dry and wet gas fields. In some embodiments, the desired area includes dry and wet gas fields that are fracture stimulated for production.

In embodiments, the performance index method includes determining PI from the following equation:

PI=(q/dd)*(cum./GPI).

In the equation, the term q refers to an average daily rate for a time period. For instance, the term q may have the units of Mmscfd (e.g., million standard cubic feet per day). The term dd refers to an average drawdown per day for a time period. For instance, the term dd may have the units of psi/day (e.g., pounds per square inch per day). The term cum. refers to cumulative production for a time period. For instance, the term cum. may have the units of Mmscf (e.g., million standard cubic feet). It is to be understood that the time period is a period of days. The term GPI refers to gross perforated interval. The GPI is the lateral length of a well (e.g., the distance between the top (or first) and bottom (or last) perforation). In embodiments in which the well that was used to provide the data for the equation is fracture stimulated, the GPI is the treated lateral length of the well. The term GPI may have the units of kft (e.g., thousand feet). It is to be understood that in embodiments about the entire interval is treated. It is to be further understood that treated refers to fracture stimulated treatments performed on the well by pumping stimulation material under pressure. Without limitation, examples of pressure treatments include fracture stimulation.

The data for q, dd, and cum. are taken from gross recorded production data of each well in the desired area. In embodiments, the recorded data is the first sixty days of production data. In some embodiments, when applying the equation, all of the wells used in the desired area for the equation have similar pressure treatments. In an embodiment, all of the wells used when applying the equation for a desired area have between about 8,000 psi and about 12,000 psi average surface treatment pressures. However, it is to be understood that the equation is not limited to wells that have had similar pressure treatments.

In embodiments, the time period is the same for q, dd, and cum. In embodiments, the time period for each well begins (the beginning day) on the day that the highest flowing wellhead pressure is achieved after the first day that a stable water yield occurs. Stable water yield refers to consistent well behavior in water production per unit gas produced. Without being limited by theory, embodiments include a stable water yield because water creates hydrostatic pressure that is detrimental to the reservoir in directing steady production to the surface. In an embodiment, the time period ends (the ending day) on a day from about the minimum day to about the maximum day after the beginning day (i.e., the day on which the time period begins). In an embodiment, the minimum day is the day in which a minimum amount of daily drawdown to define the flow capacity of the wellbore is available. In embodiments, the minimum day is about twenty days or about thirty days after the beginning day. The maximum day represents the last day necessary to evaluate a well's production in order to define the flow capacity of the well, and therefore, the stimulated rock quality. In an embodiment, the maximum day is from about thirty days to about forty days from the beginning day. In an embodiment, the time period is about thirty days from the beginning day. Without being limited by theory, a minimum day or maximum day (e.g., thirty days from the beginning day) is used because it may be desired to measure the flow capacity of the formation (e.g., the stimulated reservoir volume) and not of the effectiveness of proppant. For instance, without being limited by theory, if measuring PI too long after fracturing and producing from the well, the PI measurement may be driven more by the ability of the proppant to maintain open fractures (i.e., due to overburden pressure) rather than the flow capacity of the stimulated reservoir volume, which may be the desired measurement. For instance, without limitation, too long after fracturing and producing the well may be beyond about 3,000 psi to beyond about 4,000 psi of drawdown from the initial flowing wellhead pressure at initial production, where the initial flowing wellhead pressure may be about 6,000 psi to about 9,000 psi in the reservoir of application.

In alternative embodiments, the time period may be selected based on choke sizes. In some alternative embodiments, the time period may be fewer days when a large choke is used because a stable water yield may be achieved quicker, alternatively the time period may be more days when a small choke is used. It is to be understood that a large choke refers to a choke that is 18/64ths of an inch and larger. It is to be further understood that a small choke refers to a choke that is smaller than 18/64ths of an inch. In an alternative embodiment, the time period for a large choke is from about twenty days to about thirty days. In alternative embodiments, the time period for a small choke is from about thirty days to about forty days.

In some embodiments, the performance index method includes optimizing the time period. In embodiments, optimizing the time period includes removing data from consideration for the equation for days in which abnormal well flowing behavior is exhibited in relation to other days in the time period for the well. For instance, abnormal well behavior includes days in which the well has an abnormally high pressure (i.e., pressures higher than that of the nearest previous producing day). For instance, in some embodiments, an abnormally high pressure day includes the day or partial day when the well is shut down. In an embodiment, optimizing the time period includes removing data from the equation for days in which the well has an abnormally low pressure (i.e., pressure that cause significant deviations from daily drawdown trends, usually due to a temporary operational condition or a pressure recorded at a different time of the day than normally recorded). In some embodiments in which there may be various temporary conditions that may cause this, the cause is investigated to understand whether the data may or may not be removed. For instance, in some embodiments, an abnormally low pressure day includes days when the well is returned to production and/or is in the process of returning to production.

In an embodiment, a method determines the optimum number of wells per section for maximum present value. The method includes detellnining one well in the PI area (i.e., the desired area) to represent the area in terms of performance. Embodiments include modeling this well. In some embodiments, modeling includes history matching and forecasting using a reservoir simulator and then drainage area sensitivities performed to show the various recovery factors and EURs in a section with a different number of wells per section, typically beginning with four wells per section up to twelve wells per section. It is to be understood that EUR refers to estimated ultimate recovery. Embodiments include that for each modeled scenario, there is an average EUR per well. Such EUR values may be entered into an economic calculator (e.g., ARIES™ System Petroleum Economic Evaluation Software, ARIES™ is a trademark of Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.) along with their associated drilling and completion costs to show the scenario that maximizes profits. For example, without limitation, five wells per section may have an average EUR per well of 18 Bcf, and a D&C cost of $50 million (e.g., $10 million/well), which may result in a net present value of about $106 million. Comparatively, six wells in the same section may have an average EUR per well of 15 Bcf, and a D&C cost of $60 million, which may result in a net present value of about $102 million. Without limitation, defining rock quality changes facilitates developing the field with such method by deteimining the appropriate number of wells to be drilled in a section. In embodiments, the method further includes siting each well. As an example, if X number of wells per section (e.g., five) maximizes profits in an area, the well sites are located where the wells are equally spaced within the square mile (i.e., when the section is one square mile). In embodiments, Y (e.g., two) of the horizontal wells are drilled at a legal distance from two of the opposing section sides defined by the regulatory field rules. Without limitation, it is to be understood that changes may occur in the natural gas price file used (e.g., NYMEX® Strip, NYMEX® is a registered trademark of the New York Mercantile Exchange Corporation), thereby changing the economic outcomes. Further, without limitation, it is to be understood that the natural gas price file may change what is ideal as the prices change. Embodiments additionally include the profits also being dependent upon factors such as drilling and completion costs, operational costs such as lease operating expenses and fluid processing costs, tax costs, or any combinations thereof.

To further illustrate various illustrative embodiments, the following examples are provided.

Example 1

Table I shows the data from a previous well. The performance index method was used to determine the PI of the well as:

PI=(8.480/9)*(254.4/4.567)=52 Mmscf²/(psig*kft).

The first day of data in Table I was the first day of production for the well. Typically, there was an initial flow back period of about seven days prior to this data. During 4/13/10 and 4/14/10, the well was shut in for tubing installation. The thirty day time period used for the performance index equation was from 4/28/10 to 5/27/10. From 4/22/10 to 4/27/10, it was seen that although the yield was somewhat stabilized, the flowing wellhead pressure had not established a stable decline until 4/28/10, which was the first day of the thirty day time period. In the thirty day time period (4/28/10 to 5/27/10), the yield was stabilized, and the pressure decline was established.

The data for the equation was optimized by omitting the days 5/4/10, 5/5/10, and 5/6/10 from the equation data of the performance index method. The daily drawdown of such days showed abnormal well production. For instance, wells typically do not build 10 psi pressure and produce over 8.5 Mmscfd under normal flowing conditions. On the next day (5/5/10), the well produced similar gas volumes, but drew down more than a normal amount relative to the remainder of the data. On the third of the abnormal days (5/6/10), the data showed no drawdown and a similar gas volume, which was also abnormal well behavior. By optimizing the time period and removing the days 5/4/10, 5/5/10, and 5/6/10, the data provided an average daily drawdown of 9 psig to use in the equation. It was seen that including data from the three days 5/4/10, 5/5/10, and 5/6/10 also would give an average daily drawdown of 9 psig, which was one example of where it may be desired to not optimize the performance index method and obtain the same performance index by virtue of the averaging function.

TABLE I Gas Water Yield FWHP Daily Date (Mscf) (Bbls.) (BW/Mmscf) (psig) drawdown Mar. 29, 2010 9,025 298 33 8516 Mar. 30, 2010 9,311 227 24 8536 Mar. 31, 2010 9,531 191 20 8800 Apr. 1, 2010 5,884 73 12 8608 Apr. 2, 2010 8,758 131 15 8598 Apr. 3, 2010 8,831 120 14 8580 Apr. 4, 2010 8,824 90 10 8566 Apr. 5, 2010 8,855 104 12 8561 Apr. 6, 2010 8,879 80 9 8544 Apr. 7, 2010 8,890 80 9 8539 Apr. 8, 2010 7,821 68 9 8493 Apr. 9, 2010 6,580 111 17 8555 Apr. 10, 2010 8,947 63 7 8532 Apr. 11, 2010 8,979 61 7 8525 Apr. 12, 2010 8,703 60 7 8703 Apr. 13, 2010 0 0 0 0 Apr. 14, 2010 0 0 0 0 Apr. 15, 2010 4,528 167 37 8497 Apr. 16, 2010 8,900 82 9 8475 Apr. 17, 2010 8,824 105 12 8447 Apr. 18, 2010 8,766 115 13 8461 Apr. 19, 2010 8,805 120 14 8489 Apr. 20, 2010 8,791 101 11 8411 Apr. 21, 2010 8,693 88 10 8372 Apr. 22, 2010 8,484 48 6 8436 Apr. 23, 2010 8,460 50 6 8372 Apr. 24, 2010 8,678 32 4 8320 Apr. 25, 2010 8,642 44 5 8350 Apr. 26, 2010 8,627 32 4 8305 Apr. 27, 2010 8,604 46 5 8377 Apr. 28, 2010 8,588 33 4 8282 Apr. 29, 2010 8,571 41 5 8275 7 Apr. 30, 2010 8,562 36 4 8261 14 May 1, 2010 8,563 37 4 8252 9 May 2, 2010 8,543 43 5 8242 10 May 3, 2010 8,544 40 5 8237 5 May 4, 2010 8,556 41 5 8247 −10 May 5, 2010 8,534 28 3 8215 32 May 6, 2010 8,535 40 5 8215 0 May 7, 2010 8,624 32 4 8194 21 May 8, 2010 8,571 42 5 8184 10 May 9, 2010 8,503 38 4 8172 12 May 10, 2010 8,490 34 4 8168 4 May 11, 2010 8,481 38 4 8156 12 May 12, 2010 8,465 32 4 8152 4 May 13, 2010 8,471 28 3 8140 12 May 14, 2010 8,451 33 4 8133 7 May 15, 2010 8,444 30 4 8122 11 May 16, 2010 8,440 37 4 8115 7 May 17, 2010 8,443 33 4 8110 5 May 18, 2010 8,446 42 5 8097 13 May 19, 2010 8,431 38 5 8092 5 May 20, 2010 8,421 26 3 8083 9 May 21, 2010 8,423 34 4 8074 9 May 22, 2010 8,416 30 4 8065 9 May 23, 2010 8,398 31 4 8063 2 May 24, 2010 8,385 34 4 8050 13 May 25, 2010 8,380 34 4 8039 11 May 26, 2010 8,381 34 4 8032 7 May 27, 2010 8,349 28 3 8023 9 Average 8,480 9

Example 2

Table II shows the data from a previous well. The performance index method was used to determine the PI of the well as:

PI=(8.644/10*(259.3/4.436)=46 Mmscf²/(psig*kft).

The same generalities of Example 1 apply to this Example 2. In regards to the drawdown, since the values were not all relatively consistent, there were two ways to calculate the drawdown value used in the equation and arrive at the same conclusion. The first method was to optimize and omit the days 10/22/09, 10/24/09, 10/25/09, 10/31/09, 11/1/09, 11/14/09, and 11/15/09. Such days were omitted due to abnormal well behavior, and the average was 11 psig. The second method was to subtract the last FWHP value from the second FWHP value in the time period and divide that difference by 29 (e.g., the number of producing days between them). Therefore, the second method was 8,337-8,025=312, and then 312 was divided by 29 to obtain 11 psig. The first day was omitted because the drawdown value between the first two days of the time period was abnormal. It may also be observed that on 11/3/09 the well built pressure, but the data for such day was not omitted from the averaging calculation because 11/3/09 was not preceded or followed by a larger than normal drawdown. This may be an indication that the well was shut down for a small portion of the day for an operational reason. The thirty day time period used for the performance index equation was from 10/21/09 to 11/19/09. From 10/3/09 to 10/20/09, it was seen that although the yield was somewhat stabilized, the flowing wellhead pressure had not established a stable decline until 10/21/09, which was the first day of the thirty day time period.

TABLE II Gas Water Yield FWHP Daily Date (Mscf) (Bbls.) (BW/Mmscf) (psig) Drawdown Sep. 14, 2009 1,795 773 431 8289 Sep. 15, 2009 5,111 431 84 8289 Sep. 16, 2009 7,543 366 49 8597 Sep. 17, 2009 8,059 323 40 8593 Sep. 18, 2009 8,013 334 42 8614 Sep. 19, 2009 8,180 323 39 8615 Sep. 20, 2009 8,275 303 37 8613 Sep. 21, 2009 8,349 279 33 8625 Sep. 22, 2009 8,337 247 30 8641 Sep. 23, 2009 8,662 229 26 8652 Sep. 24, 2009 8,669 209 24 8664 Sep. 25, 2009 8,884 190 21 8671 Sep. 26, 2009 8,976 187 21 8685 Sep. 27, 2009 9,066 132 15 8688 Sep. 28, 2009 9,090 119 13 8681 Sep. 29, 2009 9,114 135 15 8676 Sep. 30, 2009 9,161 103 11 8677 Oct. 1, 2009 8,209 104 13 8733 Oct. 2, 2009 5,251 42 8 8711 Oct. 3, 2009 8,961 59 7 8694 Oct. 4, 2009 8,962 71 8 8529 Oct. 5, 2009 8,961 61 7 8474 Oct. 6, 2009 8,983 56 6 8421 Oct. 7, 2009 9,020 53 6 8528 Oct. 8, 2009 8,974 48 5 8513 Oct. 9, 2009 8,969 42 5 8502 Oct. 10, 2009 8,949 44 5 8489 Oct. 11, 2009 8,961 50 6 8478 Oct. 12, 2009 8,930 41 5 8483 Oct. 13, 2009 8,927 45 5 8113 Oct. 14, 2009 8,871 36 4 8435 Oct. 15, 2009 8,867 35 4 8425 Oct. 16, 2009 8,863 45 5 8410 Oct. 17, 2009 8,816 28 3 8401 Oct. 18, 2009 8,876 31 3 8386 Oct. 19, 2009 8,764 23 3 8764 Oct. 20, 2009 8,856 21 2 7666 Oct. 21, 2009 8,897 21 2 8439 Oct. 22, 2009 8,891 30 3 8337 102 Oct. 23, 2009 8,888 35 4 8326 11 Oct. 24, 2009 8,883 25 3 8364 −38 Oct. 25, 2009 8,863 44 5 8304 60 Oct. 26, 2009 8,806 31 4 8291 13 Oct. 27, 2009 8,777 28 3 8281 10 Oct. 28, 2009 8,783 31 4 8267 14 Oct. 29, 2009 8,787 30 3 8254 13 Oct. 30, 2009 8,775 28 3 8239 15 Oct. 31, 2009 8,775 30 3 8352 −113 Nov. 1, 2009 8,774 24 3 8221 131 Nov. 2, 2009 8,757 23 3 8204 17 Nov. 3, 2009 5,389 25 5 8251 −47 Nov. 4, 2009 8,835 28 3 8228 23 Nov. 5, 2009 8,878 21 2 8212 16 Nov. 6, 2009 8,841 35 4 8186 26 Nov. 7, 2009 8,815 23 3 8174 12 Nov. 8, 2009 8,786 21 2 8164 10 Nov. 9, 2009 8,779 26 3 8147 17 Nov. 10, 2009 8,761 26 3 8130 17 Nov. 11, 2009 8,715 28 3 8123 7 Nov. 12, 2009 8,670 22 3 8108 15 Nov. 13, 2009 8,660 16 2 8099 9 Nov. 14, 2009 8,612 21 2 8037 62 Nov. 15, 2009 8,559 26 3 8071 −34 Nov. 16, 2009 8,615 33 4 8055 16 Nov. 17, 2009 8,522 35 4 8048 7 Nov. 18, 2009 8,595 28 3 8036 12 Nov. 19, 2009 8,622 25 3 8025 11 Average 8,644 11

Example 3

Table III shows the data from a previous well. The performance index method was used to determine the PI of the well as:

PI=(8.537/11)*(256.1/4.630)=43 Mmscf²/(psig*kft).

The same generalities of Example 1 apply to this Example 3. The thirty day time period of 5/5/10 to 6/3/10 was chosen when the first stable yield was observed. The optimization omitted only days 5/28/10, 5/29/10, and 5/30/10 due to abnormal well behavior as exhibited by the daily drawdowns for such days. The analysis for this Example 3 was completed in 47 production days and less than 600 psi total drawdown from the highest initial production pressure of the well.

TABLE III Gas Water Yield FWHP Daily Date (Mscf) (Bbls.) (BW/Mmscf) (psig) Drawdown Apr. 18, 2010 3,085 1,029 334 8089 Apr. 19, 2010 4,689 804 171 8255 Apr. 20, 2010 5,267 686 130 8328 Apr. 21, 2010 6,081 627 103 8545 Apr. 22, 2010 6,572 522 79 8646 Apr. 23, 2010 7,004 501 72 8707 Apr. 24, 2010 7,410 482 65 8743 Apr. 25, 2010 7,673 326 42 9000 Apr. 26, 2010 7,907 359 45 9000 Apr. 27, 2010 8,013 341 43 8786 Apr. 28, 2010 8,055 346 43 8787 Apr. 29, 2010 8,121 308 38 8784 Apr. 30, 2010 8,237 298 36 8798 May 1, 2010 8,433 270 32 8784 May 2, 2010 8,506 250 29 8785 May 3, 2010 8,658 232 27 8789 May 4, 2010 8,699 183 21 8767 May 5, 2010 8,679 130 15 8752 May 6, 2010 8,615 170 20 8734 18 May 7, 2010 8,581 182 21 8725 9 May 8, 2010 8,576 175 20 8722 3 May 9, 2010 8,575 160 19 8697 25 May 10, 2010 8,576 173 20 8688 9 May 11, 2010 8,580 165 19 8680 8 May 12, 2010 8,613 168 20 8664 16 May 13, 2010 8,642 160 19 8654 10 May 14, 2010 8,648 166 19 8643 11 May 15, 2010 8,681 110 13 8630 13 May 16, 2010 8,689 122 14 8624 6 May 17, 2010 8,686 130 15 8614 10 May 18, 2010 8,690 133 15 8606 8 May 19, 2010 8,569 134 16 8590 16 May 20, 2010 8,535 94 11 8579 11 May 21, 2010 8,538 139 16 8570 9 May 22, 2010 8,539 116 14 8569 1 May 23, 2010 8,548 99 12 8549 20 May 24, 2010 8,542 125 15 8541 8 May 25, 2010 8,545 113 13 8535 6 May 26, 2010 8,538 113 13 8526 9 May 27, 2010 8,537 127 15 8511 15 May 28, 2010 8,532 112 13 8522 −11 May 29, 2010 7,897 117 15 8615 −93 May 30, 2010 8,151 85 10 8492 123 May 31, 2010 8,468 103 12 8482 10 Jun. 1, 2010 8,460 98 12 8470 12 Jun. 2, 2010 8,450 112 13 8455 15 Jun. 3, 2010 8,435 109 13 8444 11 Average 8,537 11

Example 4

Table IV shows the data from a previous well. The performance index method was used to determine the PI of the well as:

PI=(10.894/12)*(326.8/4.565)=65 MmscI²/(psig*kft).

The same generalities of Example 1 apply to this Example 4. The thirty day time period of 8/24/10 to 9/22/10 was chosen days after production tubing was installed on 8/18/10. The optimization analysis had minimal daily drawdown pressure to omit as only days 8/26/10, 8/27/10, and 8/28/10 were due to abnormal well behavior as exhibited by the daily drawdowns for such days.

TABLE IV Gas Water Yield FWHP Daily Date (Mscf) (Bbls.) (BW/Mmscf) (psig) Drawdown Jul. 28, 2010 5,403 419 78 8395 Jul. 29, 2010 7,390 306 41 8346 Jul. 30, 2010 10,184 195 19 8405 Jul. 31, 2010 10,449 105 10 8511 Aug. 1, 2010 10,787 80 7 8541 Aug. 2, 2010 10,995 65 6 8536 Aug. 3, 2010 10,996 89 8 8538 Aug. 4, 2010 11,288 85 8 8535 Aug. 5, 2010 11,400 97 9 8540 Aug. 6, 2010 11,476 81 7 8541 Aug. 7, 2010 11,325 75 7 8520 Aug. 8, 2010 11,536 87 8 8506 Aug. 9, 2010 11,565 79 7 8495 Aug. 10, 2010 11,517 81 7 8509 Aug. 11, 2010 10,754 88 8 8524 Aug. 12, 2010 8,795 96 11 8489 Aug. 13, 2010 11,660 88 8 8476 Aug. 14, 2010 11,633 68 6 8467 Aug. 15, 2010 11,622 85 7 8452 Aug. 16, 2010 10,393 71 7 8700 Aug. 17, 2010 0 0 0 0 Aug. 18, 2010 0 0 0 8234 Aug. 19, 2010 7,265 91 13 8217 Aug. 20, 2010 10,958 87 8 8247 Aug. 21, 2010 11,300 77 7 8242 Aug. 22, 2010 11,362 71 6 8231 Aug. 23, 2010 11,390 87 8 8242 Aug. 24, 2010 11,309 77 7 8227 Aug. 25, 2010 11,273 79 7 8217 10 Aug. 26, 2010 11,303 73 6 8191 26 Aug. 27, 2010 11,317 71 6 8189 2 Aug. 28, 2010 11,318 68 6 8191 −2 Aug. 29, 2010 11,319 74 7 8181 10 Aug. 30, 2010 11,258 69 6 8164 17 Aug. 31, 2010 10,563 71 7 8153 11 Sep. 1, 2010 10,752 64 6 8136 17 Sep. 2, 2010 10,851 67 6 8123 13 Sep. 3, 2010 10,919 65 6 8110 13 Sep. 4, 2010 10,994 62 6 8099 11 Sep. 5, 2010 10,985 64 6 8084 15 Sep. 6, 2010 10,924 58 5 8072 12 Sep. 7, 2010 10,968 62 6 8064 8 Sep. 8, 2010 10,986 59 5 8050 14 Sep. 9, 2010 10,988 57 5 8044 6 Sep. 10, 2010 10,971 51 5 8026 18 Sep. 11, 2010 10,938 55 5 8013 13 Sep. 12, 2010 10,945 49 5 7998 15 Sep. 13, 2010 10,930 45 4 7988 10 Sep. 14, 2010 10,888 40 4 7982 6 Sep. 15, 2010 10,865 44 4 7967 15 Sep. 16, 2010 10,718 41 4 7961 6 Sep. 17, 2010 9,304 43 5 7949 12 Sep. 18, 2010 10,665 44 4 7937 12 Sep. 19, 2010 10,642 48 5 7927 10 Sep. 20, 2010 10,626 41 4 7918 9 Sep. 21, 2010 10,623 44 4 7907 11 Sep. 22, 2010 10,686 42 4 7890 17 Average 10,894 12

Example 5

Table V shows the data from a previous well, and Table VI shows the data from another previous well. The performance index method was used to determine the PI of the well of Table V as:

PI=(9.075/20)*(272.3/4.624)=27 Mmscf²/(psig*kft).

The performance index method was used to determine the PI of the well of Table VI as:

PI=(16.526/65)*(495.8/4.619)=27 Mmscf²/(psig*kft).

TABLE V Gas Water Yield FWHP Daily Date (Mscf) (Bbls.) (BW/Mmscf) (psig) Drawdown Jul. 21, 2009 2,646 1,470 556 7825 Jul. 22, 2009 4,096 1,242 303 8461 Jul. 23, 2009 5,448 937 172 8717 Jul. 24, 2009 6,327 754 119 8822 Jul. 25, 2009 6,938 635 92 8927 Jul. 26, 2009 7,502 565 75 8913 Jul. 27, 2009 7,873 489 62 8982 Jul. 28, 2009 7,853 403 51 9034 Jul. 29, 2009 8,336 364 44 9014 Jul. 30, 2009 4,880 175 36 9025 Jul. 31, 2009 4,064 84 21 8522 Aug. 1, 2009 0 0 0 8522 Aug. 2, 2009 0 0 0 8522 Aug. 3, 2009 0 0 0 8522 Aug. 4, 2009 838 120 143 9200 Aug. 5, 2009 7,782 432 56 8940 Aug. 6, 2009 10,381 371 36 8872 Aug. 7, 2009 10,563 283 27 8864 Aug. 8, 2009 10,529 262 25 8793 Aug. 9, 2009 10,722 165 15 8754 Aug. 10, 2009 10,715 168 16 8641 Aug. 11, 2009 11,171 160 14 8610 Aug. 12, 2009 9,638 178 18 8649 Aug. 13, 2009 10,037 137 14 8622 Aug. 14, 2009 10,342 181 18 8580 Aug. 15, 2009 10,314 113 11 8609 Aug. 16, 2009 9,976 130 13 8609 Aug. 17, 2009 9,362 120 13 8547 Aug. 18, 2009 9,805 118 12 8498 Aug. 19, 2009 10,048 144 14 8440 Aug. 20, 2009 9,723 107 11 8443 Aug. 21, 2009 10,135 136 13 8398 Aug. 22, 2009 10,099 126 12 8415 Aug. 23, 2009 9,873 130 13 8395 20 Aug. 24, 2009 9,785 108 11 8339 56 Aug. 25, 2009 9,698 102 11 8276 63 Aug. 26, 2009 9,051 109 12 8407 −131 Aug. 27, 2009 8,658 92 11 8385 22 Aug. 28, 2009 8,747 93 11 8363 22 Aug. 29, 2009 8,767 88 10 8346 17 Aug. 30, 2009 8,795 93 11 8329 17 Aug. 31, 2009 8,819 97 11 8305 24 Sep. 1, 2009 8,839 87 10 8278 27 Sep. 2, 2009 8,888 86 10 8256 22 Sep. 3, 2009 8,908 72 8 8232 24 Sep. 4, 2009 8,915 42 5 8222 10 Sep. 5, 2009 8,908 67 8 8195 27 Sep. 6, 2009 8,902 66 7 8178 17 Sep. 7, 2009 8,933 59 7 8383 −205 Sep. 8, 2009 8,319 45 5 8139 244 Sep. 9, 2009 8,927 46 5 8116 23 Sep. 10, 2009 8,996 49 5 8086 30 Sep. 11, 2009 9,036 64 7 8057 29 Sep. 12, 2009 9,050 67 7 8038 19 Sep. 13, 2009 9,107 64 7 8011 27 Sep. 14, 2009 9,152 97 11 7971 40 Sep. 15, 2009 9,203 57 6 7955 16 Sep. 16, 2009 9,190 96 10 7921 34 Sep. 17, 2009 9,195 84 9 7900 21 Sep. 18, 2009 9,186 29 3 7880 20 Sep. 19, 2009 9,151 46 5 7856 24 Sep. 20, 2009 9,154 71 8 7828 28 Average 9,075 20

TABLE VI Gas Water Yield FWHP Daily Date (Mscf) (Bbls.) (BW/Mmscf) (psig) Drawdown Nov. 1, 2009 2,587 1,743 674 7579 Nov. 2, 2009 11,616 1,779 153 7995 Nov. 3, 2009 11,615 2,198 189 8128 Nov. 4, 2009 14,603 2,054 141 8287 Nov. 5, 2009 16,525 1,807 109 8306 Nov. 6, 2009 17,754 1,411 79 8306 Nov. 7, 2009 17,971 1,092 61 8304 Nov. 8, 2009 19,240 984 51 8231 Nov. 9, 2009 19,533 821 42 8191 Nov. 10, 2009 19,592 829 42 8116 Nov. 11, 2009 19,619 782 40 8034 Nov. 12, 2009 17,423 721 41 8714 Nov. 13, 2009 5,275 176 33 8418 Nov. 14, 2009 16,108 139 9 8389 Nov. 15, 2009 19,282 510 26 8076 Nov. 16, 2009 19,000 601 32 7973 103 Nov. 17, 2009 16,062 357 22 7988 −15 Nov. 18, 2009 17,911 419 23 7882 106 Nov. 19, 2009 18,069 561 31 7788 94 Nov. 20, 2009 18,273 504 28 7685 103 Nov. 21, 2009 18,163 573 32 7597 88 Nov. 22, 2009 18,007 441 24 7533 64 Nov. 23, 2009 17,845 516 29 7455 78 Nov. 24, 2009 17,672 519 29 7381 74 Nov. 25, 2009 17,502 621 35 7291 90 Nov. 26, 2009 17,358 376 22 7239 52 Nov. 27, 2009 17,233 566 33 7162 77 Nov. 28, 2009 17,070 457 27 7095 67 Nov. 29, 2009 16,936 407 24 7036 59 Nov. 30, 2009 16,804 385 23 6945 91 Dec. 1, 2009 16,620 300 18 6936 9 Dec. 2, 2009 10,784 215 20 7144 −208 Dec. 3, 2009 11,022 50 5 7250 −106 Dec. 4, 2009 15,625 457 29 7007 243 Dec. 5, 2009 16,699 415 25 6850 157 Dec. 6, 2009 16,498 466 28 6750 100 Dec. 7, 2009 16,265 523 32 6651 99 Dec. 8, 2009 16,092 397 25 6582 69 Dec. 9, 2009 15,914 394 25 6516 66 Dec. 10, 2009 15,735 550 35 6428 88 Dec. 11, 2009 15,561 345 22 6377 51 Dec. 12, 2009 15,408 332 22 6307 70 Dec. 13, 2009 15,257 417 27 6247 60 Dec. 14, 2009 15,113 411 27 6182 65 Average 16,526 65

The same generalities of Example 1 apply to this Example 5. The well for Table V and the well for Table VI were less than one mile apart and had about the same GPI. The well for Table V operated on a 16/64ths choke, and the well for Table VI operated on a 24/64ths choke. The choke size differences between these two wells were observed from the difference in average rate, average daily drawdown, and cumulative production. The determined PI values were the same although the wells were operated differently, which illustrated that the reservoir rock properties around each well were similar, as was expected considering their proximity. However, these two wells had different estimated ultimate recoveries (EURs), which meant that the PI was a more accurate measure of rock quality and was better suited for development decisions. Additionally, the average daily drawdown calculated for each of the two wells used data for all days within the thirty day time period. The observed abnormal drawdowns were caused by temporary choke size changes and were therefore inconsequential to the analysis. Such attention to unique operating conditions was helpful in the analysis. The thirty day time period for the well of Table V was 8/22/09 to 9/20/09. From 8/12/09 to 8/21/09, it was seen that although the yield may be somewhat stabilized, the flowing wellhead pressure had not established a stable decline until 8/22/09, which was the first day of the thirty day time period. The thirty day time period for the well of Table VI was 11/15/09 to 12/14/09.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A performance index method for determining a performance index for subterranean rock of an area, wherein the area comprises a well, the method comprising: determining a time period during producing the well; and determining the performance index from data of the time period from the equation: PI=(q/dd)*(cum./GPI), wherein PI is the performance index, q is the average daily rate of the well for the time period, dd is the average drawdown per day of the well for the time period, cum. is the cumulative production of the well for the time period, and GPI is the gross perforated interval of the well for the time period.
 2. The performance index method of claim 1, wherein the well is a natural gas well.
 3. The performance index method of claim 1, wherein the well is fracture stimulated for production.
 4. The performance index method of claim 1, wherein the time period begins on a beginning day, wherein the beginning day comprises a day that the well has a highest flowing wellhead pressure after the first day that a stable water yield occurs.
 5. The performance index method of claim 4, wherein the time period ends on an ending day, wherein the ending day comprises a day from about a minimum day to about a maximum day.
 6. The performance index method of claim 5, wherein the minimum day comprises a day in which a minimum amount of daily drawdown to define a flow capacity of the well is available.
 7. The performance index method of claim 5, wherein the maximum day comprises a last day for evaluating production of a well to define a flow capacity of the well.
 8. The performance index method of claim 4, wherein the time period comprises from the beginning day to about thirty days from the beginning day.
 9. The performance index method of claim 4, wherein the time period comprises from about thirty days to about forty days from the beginning day.
 10. The performance index method of claim 4, wherein the time period comprises about thirty days, wherein the about thirty days begins on the beginning day.
 11. The performance index method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the time period based on a choke size.
 12. The performance index method of claim 11, wherein determining the time period based on a choke size further comprises selecting the time period from about twenty days to about thirty days from a beginning day when the choke size is 18/64ths of an inch and larger.
 13. The performance index method of claim 11, wherein determining the time period based on a choke size further comprises selecting the time period from about thirty days to about forty days from a beginning day when the choke size is smaller than 18/64ths of an inch.
 14. The performance index method of claim 1, further comprising optimizing the time period.
 15. The performance index method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the time period comprises removing days from the time period that exhibit abnormal well behavior in relation to other days in the time period.
 16. The performance index method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the time period comprises removing a day from the time period when the day comprises a well shut down.
 17. The performance index method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the time period comprises removing a day from the time period when the day comprises the well opening back up after a shut down.
 18. The performance index method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises more than one well.
 19. The performance index method of claim 1, wherein the gross perforated interval comprises a lateral length of the well.
 20. The performance index method of claim 19, wherein the lateral length comprises a treated lateral length. 